World Premiere of Rob Urbinati's Death By Design at HFAC in September

Houston Family Arts Center will have not just one but two world premieres under its belt come fall. As previously reported, the company is in the middle of preparing its all-Texan cast for the world premiere of local writer Chance McClain's Kissless the Musical at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at the end of September. Before then, though, HFAC will work in reverse to bring the world premiere of a New York-based playwright to Houston audiences.

Death By Design, which was commissioned by HFAC, is a Noël Coward-cum-Agatha Christie mystery written by Rob Urbinati that will open the company's season. Previously, HFAC produced Urbinati's West Moon Street. Earlier this year, HFAC hosted a staged reading of Death By Design, which will be directed by Lisa Garza.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the process in bringing a new work to life," Garza said in a release. "Rob Urbinati has written a new classic that people in Houston will be the first to see."

The play runs September 8 through 25. For information, call 281-685-6374 or visit www.houstonfac.com